(a) A small branch of a tree, a twig, shoot; also, the stem of a plant; a sprig of a medicinal plant or herb; a leafy branch, frond; any green and growing part of a plant; lim ~ [see lim n.(2) 4.(c)]; linde ~, a linden twig; tuft of twigges, a stand of shoots, bed of osiers; (b) fig. an offshoot of a vice or of a branch of a sin or vice, a subspecies or subtype of sin; (c) a rod, switch; (d) a pliant branch used as material for basketwork or wickerwork, an osier rod;—usu. pl.; also, coll. wickerwork [2nd quot.]; also as adj. or in comb. [quot. ?c1475]; (e) as surname.